In order to help parents reinforce the ideas their children learn in school and in tutoring, Academics Plus, Inc. is offering a Lesson series on our blog that demonstrates basic concepts using items you can find around the house.
Fraction Basics:
Fractions are essentially parts of a whole. If you have the ability to create a “whole” out of something with independent parts, you will be able to demonstrate the concept of fractions to your children. Here is an example demonstration you can do with an everyday item.
What you will need:
- A deck of basic playing cards
- A table
- A piece of paper
- A pen
Directions:
1. Clear a space on a table and place five cards down in this position:
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2. Begin the lesson by explaining to your child that fractions are parts of one whole. Count out the cards aloud with your child and state that all of these cards are part of one deck.
3. Flip one of the cards in the formation upside down so the number is not showing. Explain that this one card looks different from the other cards.
4. Ask them to count all of the cards out loud on their left hand. When they are finished, they should have five fingers raised on their left hand. Then, ask them to count the cards that look different on their right hand. When they are finished, they should have one finger raised on their right hand.
5. Put your child’s hands together and demonstrate how this becomes “1/5th”. Explain that the card that one fifth of the deck is flipped over.
6. Add a few more cards to the formation and form them like so:
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7. Ask your child to flip over however many they would like.
8. Take out your piece of paper and pen. Ask them to count how many cards are flipped over and write that number on the paper. Then ask them to count how many cards there are all together. Write that number below the first number and draw a line above it to form a fraction.
9. Explain that the top number, or numerator, represents the number of items (cards) within the whole set (deck) that are different (flipped over). In other words, in the first example, one card out of five was flipped over. The number on top, or numerator, “1” represents the number of items (the single card) within a whole set (the five cards) that differ.
10. Have them practice with a number of cards using their hands and the piece of paper to write down the fractions.
Reader Question: Do you have any suggestions on how to improve this lesson? Please offer them!